Candida is a yeast-like fungus that lives in the intestines, bowel, genitals, throat, esophagus and mouth. Male or female, if you have Irritable Bowel Syndrome, candida yeast could be making your symptoms much worse.

While we all have this yeast in our bodies, under certain circumstances it becomes a condition known as Candidiasis when it grows out of control. Many candida yeast overgrowth symptoms are similar to those of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Dr. James LaValle adds gas, bloating, and food reactions to this list. In fact, from his perspective, Irritable Bowel Syndrome is one of the many chronic candida yeast overgrowth symptoms!

If you suffer from Candidiasis, you might also notice that you crave sweets, bread or alcohol, react to chemical smells or perfumes, or feel depressed or lethargic after a walk in the autumn leaves.

What causes candida yeast to grow out of control?

One of the most common causes of overgrowth is the use of antibiotics and other drugs that kill off the bacteria that controls candida yeast in the intestines. These drugs include steroids, NSAIDS, chemotherapy, birth control pills, and some antacids.

Other factors that can trigger a candida yeast overgrowth include stress, having reduced immune function, a high sugar diet, nutritional deficiencies, mercury and heavy metal exposure, and pregnancy. (This is possibly why some women find themselves treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms after childbirth.)

If you would like to read about this in detail, I highly recommend the section on Candidiasis in Dr. Lavalle’s Cracking the Metabolic Code, pages 173-184 in the paperback version. In fact, all of the information about intestinal health in chapter 9 of his book is worth reading.

Treating candida yeast overgrowth symptoms...

Dr. Balch warns against repeated medical treatment of Candidiasis as the yeast may become stronger by developing resistance to the drugs. Both Balch and Lavalle recommend addressing candida yeast overgrowth with nutrition and supplements.

An anti-candida diet can be very challenging to follow at first. Why? Because when you have Candidiasis, you crave the very foods you need to stop eating. Actually, it is the yeast that is doing the craving, not you! Dr. A. Constantini, an expert on mycotoxins (fungal toxins), thinks that yeasts and fungi use humans to get around on the planet and provide them (the mycotoxins) with their favourite foods!

But cutting out all these foods is not usually enough and the results can be slow. To speed things up, Drs Balch and LaValle suggest a regimen of natural anti-fungals, nutrients and probiotics. These would include non-dairy acidophilus, caprylic acid, garlic, quercetin, vitamin B-complex, cat’s claw, olive leaf extract, grapefruit seed extract, oregano leaf extract, FOS, butyric acid, L-glutamine to heal the bowel, tumeric and ginger.

Another way to speed things up is to find a Touch for Health or other practitioner who does substance de-sensitizing and have them desensitize you to candida yeast. Get them to check you beforehand for the anti-fungals that will work best for you. Prior to that appointment, it’s a good idea to do your research, get all the foods you’ll need, and get rid of the foods and drinks that the yeast likes so you won’t be tempted by them. Also, plan some quiet time for at least the first week. I’ll explain why in the “Warning” section below.

Please DO NOT use this article to treat your candida yeast overgrowth symptoms. Do more research and plan your strategy. A good place to start is with Dr. LaValle’s book. He provides protocols and dietary recommendations for treating candidiasis and healing imbalances in the bowel, along with dosages for the nutrients and anti-fungals.

Warning!

I know from experience that treating an overgrowth of candida yeast can be challenging. But there are ways to make it easier. And the discomfort is worth it because you feel so much better afterwards. If you're like me, you will end up with much better digestion.

For one thing, you need to know that when you take action to clear up candidiasis, the excess yeast will start to die off. This can be physically and emotionally uncomfortable especially for someone with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. You could feel exhausted, depressed, morose, achey, have headaches and itchy skin, and think you’re coming down with the flu. You’re not. You’re just killing off the excess yeast.

This could last a couple of days or a couple of weeks so don’t start your candida cleanse right before final exams or your best friend’s wedding or any kind of stressful or demanding event. Make sure you have time to rest and take it easy. Once you’re through the first week or two, things will get a lot better.

Keep in mind that lots of negative thoughts can come up when you're killing off the excess yeast. This is from the CHEMICAL reaction inside your body, not because you're a negative person with a million problems. If you start to feel horribly depressed, angry or upset, keep repeating to yourself, "It's not me; it's the yeast. It's NOT me. It's the yeast."

You also need to know that taking anti-fungals can make you tired for the first few days so, initially, you might want to take them at night before you go to bed. Once your system is used to them, you can try taking them two or three times a day, if that’s the recommended dosage schedule.

The final thing you need to know is that yeast is very sneaky. You’ll be doing so well with your anti-candida diet that one fine day you decide you can afford to eat one little sugar-sweetened cookie. Don’t fall for it! That’s not your brain talking; it’s the yeast, wheedling you into a return to all your candida yeast overgrowth symptoms. Before you know it, that one cookie will have turned into a whole bag and you’ll suddenly find yourself with all the same problems you worked so hard to get rid of.

When that happens, your IBS could take a turn for the worse. So don’t let candida yeast and its overgrowth symptoms take over your life. Getting them under control is an important part of treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome for many sufferers.

More help

Hi. We are Karen Alison and Kathy Raymond and we help people self-heal their IBS naturally, with a doctor-recommended method that addresses the least-recognized aspect of this hellish condition – the way the brain triggers uncontrollable symptoms in the gut.

IBS is a lot like having PTSD (also once believed to be untreatable) because of the way your brain and nervous system are triggered to produce symptoms. But, in a few short sessions, you can learn how to retrain your brain so you shut down the neural pathways that lead straight to diarrhea, constipation, bloating, gas, and anxiety.

If you don’t deal with this underlying root cause of your problem, you’ll have to spend the rest of your life at the mercy of your Irritable Bowel… and it usually gets worse.

But you can make it stop NOW. Just click on this link for more information and follow the instructions to access the program.

Join the discussion

Your voice needs to be heard! Please leave your comments below and tell us what works for your candida.

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Comments (17)

I have tried so many treatment on my thrush because i was diagnose some years ago which my doctor have be giving me some medication and all i gt is regular outbreaks but when i contacted Dr Oboite, i told him about my problems he gave me an...

I have tried so many treatment on my thrush because i was diagnose some years ago which my doctor have be giving me some medication and all i gt is regular outbreaks but when i contacted Dr Oboite, i told him about my problems he gave me an herbal remedy and asked me to take it for just one week which i did. and i got cured using his natural remedy according to his prescription. anyone living with thrush, do write to him his email droboiteherbalcurehome@gmail.com or whatapps, call +2348054265852.

If you're having all those problems, it's possible that you are reacting to chemicals and toxins in the products you use and have in your house. Chemically-based personal care, laundry and household products are notorious for causing...

Hi Rebecca

If you're having all those problems, it's possible that you are reacting to chemicals and toxins in the products you use and have in your house. Chemically-based personal care, laundry and household products are notorious for causing PMS. Your body may be very toxic, in which case, you will want to avoid chemicals and use natural and unscented products. An infrared sauna may help you along with changes to your diet and, as mentioned, clearing chemicals out of your life.

How are candida and IBS related? As it says in the article, some experts believe IBS is a symptom of Candida Yeast overgrowth. So, they would probably advise you to get your candida yeast and gut flora under control.

The dietary suggestions in this article are about cutting out refined carbs and other foods that feed yeast. My understanding of the low fodmap diet is that it also cuts out refined carbs and high-sugar food items. I think rice and potatoes fall into that group.

Hi
I have just been researching on IBS as have been following low fodmap diet and still feel terrible. My stomach is so painful and i feel like i have pms symptoms constantly, sore breasts and very moody all the time as well as fatigue. I know...

Hi
I have just been researching on IBS as have been following low fodmap diet and still feel terrible. My stomach is so painful and i feel like i have pms symptoms constantly, sore breasts and very moody all the time as well as fatigue. I know also have sores that are coming up on my body in sunlight. Generally feel so unwell. I have had tests for everything, but nothing has come up apart from me having IBS. However this diet recommendation goes against the low fodmap food recommendations. So how are candida and IBS related ? as the diet is so different. Thanks in advance

The Lady Soma Candida Cleanse was a big help in my recovery from candida overgrowth. I highly recommend it. It not only contains antifungals, it also contains ingredients to settle your stomach, one probiotic culture, some digestive enzymes, etc....

The Lady Soma Candida Cleanse was a big help in my recovery from candida overgrowth. I highly recommend it. It not only contains antifungals, it also contains ingredients to settle your stomach, one probiotic culture, some digestive enzymes, etc. You get a lot of bang for your buck, and this product is a reasonable price for what it is. If you have candida overgrowth, this product was very key to my recovery. Good luck.

Hi Murray,
For tips that will help to clear toxins, read the article called How to Have Good Gut Flora and Why You Desperately Need It. Clearing chemical and chemically-scented products out of your home will lift a huge burden from your body and...

Hi Murray,
For tips that will help to clear toxins, read the article called How to Have Good Gut Flora and Why You Desperately Need It. Clearing chemical and chemically-scented products out of your home will lift a huge burden from your body and help allow it to restore balance.

Hi Kris,
Any food containing yeast (like bread) or sugar feeds the candida yeast. If you tolerate grains, you're better off with something like a cooked cereal - oatmeal, quinoa, amaranth, etc. You could also try flat breads or crackers, as long...

Hi Kris,
Any food containing yeast (like bread) or sugar feeds the candida yeast. If you tolerate grains, you're better off with something like a cooked cereal - oatmeal, quinoa, amaranth, etc. You could also try flat breads or crackers, as long as they don't contain sugar or yeast. The truth is, you get more fibre out of vegetables than grains, and you can make your veg into a smoothie in the blender to make it faster and easier to eat more veg. (I find a high-speed blender works best.)

I went to a Touch for Health practitioner and had myself desensitized to Candida yeast. The detox was horrible but short (a couple of days) and I did have to avoid sweets, alcohol, vinegar, soy sauce and other fermented, sweetened and/or yeasty foods for several weeks and take anti-fungals, but it worked and was faster than just changing my diet. I had badly imbalanced gut flora from too many antibiotics and other medications so, if that's you as well, do read our article about gut flora: http://www.no-ibs.com/blog/how-to-have-good-gut-flora-and-why-you-desperately-need-it.html

There are many other antifungals besides garlic, if you don't tolerate garlic. Caprylic acid, oregano oil, olive leaf extract, grapefruit seed extract, to name a few. It's good to have two or three on hand and take them in rotation - i.e. take one type on Monday, a different one Tuesday, the third Wednesday, then start over.

I have just started this diet. Day 2. I feel terrible, it's really knocked me out! I have been doing as much research as possible, but some articles do contradict each other, can I eat whole meal bread? Just thinking like one slice a day for the...

I have just started this diet. Day 2. I feel terrible, it's really knocked me out! I have been doing as much research as possible, but some articles do contradict each other, can I eat whole meal bread? Just thinking like one slice a day for the extra fibre...? Also garlic not great for IBS. which I have had on and off for about 4 years. Really interested that is could actually be a symptom of Candidiasis. I'd like to know more recipes or any links. I am going to try my best to starve this alien! Thank you. I will check back in and let you know how it's going.

If you have UC, I think Elaine Gottschall provides the best solution in her book: avoid ALL grains and sugars, dairy, and most fruits (sweets are the food of yeast) for a good year at least, and take anti-fungals such as the ones mentioned in our...

If you have UC, I think Elaine Gottschall provides the best solution in her book: avoid ALL grains and sugars, dairy, and most fruits (sweets are the food of yeast) for a good year at least, and take anti-fungals such as the ones mentioned in our article on How to Have Good Gut Flora (see articles list on Home page or list on the right of this page.) This will help you to defeat candida. Also avoid chemical toxins, which harm the flora of the bowel. Following a Paleo type of diet can help.
Once you get candida under control, you may be able to re-introduce some foods. Please keep in mind that it can take at least 6 months for the bowel to heal and come into balance. For the person with UC, Dr James Braly says grains must be avoided permanently.

I suffered from the U.C since last 20 years, leads to complications from refratory to common medicines and now anorectal abcesses , which misleading physicians to misdiagnose the fissure and proceeding surgery and ...
Unfortunately there is a...

I suffered from the U.C since last 20 years, leads to complications from refratory to common medicines and now anorectal abcesses , which misleading physicians to misdiagnose the fissure and proceeding surgery and ...
Unfortunately there is a couple of years that overgrowth of candida discomfort me with sever loosy diarrhae , very strong bloating , skin problems and fatigue between the periods of treatment with fluconazol.
Hiw can I get rid of this freaky fungus.